3 minute read
Daughter of Zed claims a thrilling renewal of the George Main
The Chris Waller-trained Verry Ellegant (Zed) recorded the ninth Group One victory of her career when she won a thrilling renewal of the George Main Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Just before the home turn James McDonald, aboard Very Elleegant, saw that Riodini (Proisir) had made a run for home. Into the straight, McDonald made his move down the outside and reeled in Riodini to score by three quarters of a length.
"When I looked up at the 500 and Riodini had shot clear I thought, geez, it's going to take a mighty horse to run her down," McDonald said.
"Both Think It Over and Verry Elleegant went together but she pulls out all stops this horse. She's just tough as nails.
"She was pretty cranky today though. I was a little bit worried with her going around (to the barriers). She was quite cantankerous and wanting to get on with it.
"Once I jumped a little bit slow, I didn't have many options to be fair. I just let it unfold as it went."
Verry Elleegant has been among Australia's best horses for several seasons.
It hasn't all been smooth sailing and trainer Chris Waller is the first to admit she has a mind of her own and is a handful to train, but he has nothing but admiration for her courage and grit.
"It's an honour to train a horse like this. If she doesn't win Group Ones, she runs second in them and all distances, all track conditions," Waller said.
"That's a rare commodity.
"She had to dig deep the last 200 but that's when horses like Verry Elleegant start to excel. The tougher the contest, the better she'll go."
The Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winner last year, Verry Elleegant is being targeted towards the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) this spring.
Waller is yet to decide if she will have one more run in Sydney in the Hill Stakes (Gr 2, 1800m) or head to Melbourne for the Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) but will weigh up his options in the coming days.
Verry Elleegant was bred by her part-owner Don Goodwin. She is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Danroad (Danehill) mare Opulence, while further back this is the family of Danewin (Danehill) and Commands (Danehill).
Goodwin had purchased Opulence for just NZ$14,000 at the 2011 NZB National Broodmare Sale and she is now the winner of over $9.25 million having won 14 of her 31 career starts and placing in a further nine.
